Solved Proposed new build

[mannyrd]

Time to replace my old PC after reading reviews have decided on these components as value for money and a decent performance.
Don't do games just usual family PC use.

Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Asus Z97-K/ ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Corsair 100R Silent ATX Mid Tower Case
Price £347

Trying to keep price below £400 by using these parts I already have
Corsair 500 bronze semi modular ps
Western Digital blue 1gb HD

please any advice welcome

 

[Mellon Head]

That looks like a nice build for home use. What are you going to use for a graphics card?

 

[mannyrd]

Have a EVGA GeForce GT 720 2GBin from my existing build, would this be suitable.

 

[AddRAM]

It`ll work fine for now, but I would start saving for a new more modern gpu.

EVGA - Products - Graphics - GeForce 900 Series Family - GTX 960

EVGA - Products - Graphics - GeForce 900 Series Family - GTX 970

MSI USA - Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

 

[mjf]

If games isn't a high priority ("Don't do games just usual family PC use") then your system looks good to me.

 

[mannyrd]

Thanks for reply's sorry for late response been on holiday
this is my first build and would please like a few tips on these items.

which drivers to install and in which sequence obviously chip set first but Asus site is very vague about the other drivers.
which slots to install in dual channel mode is there a preference.
Corsair case has two sata powered fans and a fan controller, is it best to use this or the fan expert software will using both create a problem.
Which Asus software utilities are needed or are they bloatware.

components on order as above any advice much appreciated.

 

[Boozad]

which drivers to install and in which sequence obviously chip set first but Asus site is very vague about the other drivers.

Install Windows and run all rounds of updates until no more are offered. This should see you driver complete as long as you're connected to the internet. Once done check Device Manager, if there are no :warn: showing you should be good to go. If you have any issues during this process let us know.

You may have to install the chipset and USB 3.0 drivers from the support page, may as well as it won't hurt either way.

which slots to install in dual channel mode is there a preference.

From the manual for that board you will need to populate Channel A with both sticks.

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Corsair case has two sata powered fans and a fan controller, is it best to use this or the fan expert software will using both create a problem.

If you want to use Fan Expert you'll need to connect the fans to the motherboard headers.

Which Asus software utilities are needed or are they bloatware.

AI Suite is OK, I use it myself on both my ASUS boards. Do not install Network iControl though, it's bloody awful.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
ai suite 2 or 3 and there's another one from Intel
http://www.sevenforums.com/benchmarks/383341-intel-extreme-tuning-utility-benchmark.html#post3160305

Problem I see with these utilities is the real possibility of bios malware getting through the back doors they use to access the bios from the os.

Your mother board may have an auto over clocking feature inside the bios already mine does and is what I prefer to use

If an oc goes bad from the os installed utility it might be tough to correct.

 

[mannyrd]

Thanks everyone for the info
Not a gamer don't intend to overclock so will just use the basic drivers

chipset, audio, VGA, LAN, and SATA drivers: Z97-A | Motherboards | ASUS Global...

waiting on amazon to deliver case came today but no components, due Saturday.

 

[ThrashZone]

Good policy even if you do want to switch to a different performance mode use the bios to do it,
There should be a few to choose from
Power saver/ Normal and Performance these are the quickies and only take 1 click and save and exit
So as you see you don't need a utility for that

 

[Layback Bear]

Asus AI Suite's have done nothing for me except create problems.

For me all over clocking is done in the bios by me.
It takes doing a little homework and trial and error.
In time I find the sweat spot and just leave it alone.

 

[Boozad]

On the flip side Jack I've run a select couple of components of AI Suite on my last two rigs and never had a problem. I'm not saying it's problem free as it obviously isn't, but it certainly isn't in the Gigabyte utility realms of BSOD hell.

 

[ThrashZone]

I used ai suite 2 or 3 briefly
I ended up with a failed oc although I wasn't ocing anything really only modified some of the fans mode in bios and I believe had the machine on a performance plan.

But none the less found out these tweaking utilities can be problematic
If you've ever had a failed oc
You know the machine will pretty much make you enter setup with F2 and then you can make adjustments/ restore default..
Using a program in the oc depending on how crazy you get might be tough to undo the oc if you get into a failed oc loop :/

I prefer to just oc the gpu modestly "if" needed which not to mention a lot easier but for the most part not needed either unless running benchmarks which I'm done with them.

 

[Boozad]

I ended up with a failed oc although I wasn't ocing anything.

That's a known false positive across ASUS boards, I had that issue on my old M2A-VM board years ago when nothing was overclocked. A quick Google will bring up thousands of results.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks I had never seen that doing any benchmarks and I did quite a few :/
Either way ai suite 2 or 3 triggered it from just the slight contradict in bios settings
So really what I gathered from it was use one or the other not both

Bios and gpu tweak is fine to me

I believe Steve warned me about these types of ocing utilities

 

[mjf]

I've still got AI Suite II installed on my personal PC (a good gen 2 system). I haven't had any significant problems. I've used it for fan control but could live without it.
I use HW Monitor when I'm running the CPU flat out for some time (eg. video encoding) to monitor fans and temperatures. I close AI Suite because it appears to conflict with HW Monitor and produce false Probe II errors.

 

[ThrashZone]

produce false Probe II errors.

That sounds kinky :roflmao:

 

[mannyrd]

Completed new PC build this weekend happy to report everything works perfect no problems.
Must admit was a bit apprehensive at the first boot.

Have just one problem my hardrive from old PC has a failed W7 install due to a faulty DVD drive and needs formatting to full capacity and expanding the system reserved partition.
Theirs plenty of info regarding this but am confused which method to use.

Retired builder but first time PC builder

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Have just one problem my hardrive from old PC has a failed W7 install due to a faulty DVD drive and needs formatting to full capacity and expanding the system reserved partition.
Theirs plenty of info regarding this but am confused which method to use.

You want to do a clean install to this drive on the old PC?

You don't need System Reserved at all.

What "methods" are you referring to?

Why can't you format it to full capacity? What happens when you try?

What makes you think System Reserved (if you want to use it at all) isn't large enough.

More details needed.

 

[mannyrd]

sorry forgot to mention I want to use this has data drive on new PC.